Rocky's road paved with gold

Page 10

The road to a professional boxing career is paved with gold for 16-year-old Rocky Whitford-the gold of a growing collection of medals in a stellar amateur career.

In two months at the start of the 2000 boxing season Rocky pounded his way to dominance in three tournaments, and picked up the award as the best youth boxer (ages 16 and 17) in Alberta for 1999. That award was presented following the provincial championships in Lethbridge in mid-March, where he won his fifth consecutive Alberta championship.

He won the provincial title in convincing style, beating Eric Martin of Provost and Michael Lachowich of Edmonton. Both fights were stopped in the third of four 2-minute rounds.

Both fights were vintage Rocky exhibitions of toughness and tenacity.

"I just overpowered them," he said. "I hurt them with body shots."

A month later Rocky came up against Eric Martin in the gold medal fight of the Alberta Golden Gloves in Spruce Grove on April 18. The referee stopped the fight in the fourth round with Rocky leading by a 15-3 point margin.

Eight days later, Rocky was back in the ring on a Pro-Am card held in conjunction with the Saskatchewan First Nations Winter Games. He brought another gold medal home, stopping Saskatoon's Dexter Badger in the third round after leading 13-2 in points.

Rocky points to the low scores of his opponents in recent fights with as much pride as the medals he has won-an amazing three gold and one Alberta Best Boxer award in less than two months. He has been working on his defensive skills to complement the devastating left hook and straight right in his offensive arsenal. He can brawl or he can box-a rare and deadly combination in the fight game.

Rocky started boxing with the Lac La Biche Boxing Club, and most of his fights have been under their banner, including two Canadian silver medals.

In mid-May Rocky moved to Slave Lake to live and train with Slave Lake Boxing Club coach Lee Tanghe. The move will give him a chance to fight in tournaments in British Columbia and Los Angeles this summer.

His family is behind him 100 per cent, although it is hard to see him leave home. He needs the opportunity to get into the ring more if he is going to develop to his full potential, says his father Harvey Whitford. "His dream is to turn pro."

Besides Rocky Marciano, a pro that Rocky Whitford hopes to emulate is Oscar De La Hoya. "He's a good all-round fighter," Rocky says.

"He's good on his feet and has fast hands. And he has a good attitude in and outside the ring,," says the young fighter.

ROCKY'S RECORD

Five-time Alberta champion - 1995 to 1999

Alberta Winter Games, gold- February 1996

Alberta Best Jr. B Boxer (14 & 15 years.)-1997

Alberta Silver Gloves tournament, gold -January 1997

Victoria Indigenous Games, gold -August 1997

Los Angeles Blue & Gold tournament, gold -September 1998

Canadian championships (Montreal), silver-April 1999

Canadian championships (St. Catherines, Ont.), silver-January 2000

Alberta Best Youth Boxer (16 & 17 years)-1999

Alberta Golden Gloves tournament, gold --April 2000

Saskatoon First Nations Winter Games, gold --April 2000